Oncore relies too heavily on their view, and not enough on the basics. Having visited other restaurants within Australia considered the same calibre and price range, we can firmly say it did not meet expectations. The window tables are the best tables in the restaurant, and personally I would say it's not worth paying $1200 for 2 people (including food and wine) to dine there if you don't get one of these coveted tables. Of course, they can't confirm prior to the booking if you will or won't, even if you book months prior when bookings open. Fortunately, we did get a window table and the view was lovely. The food was fine, but very much a disappointment considering the price tag. The bread was served cold - something I have never had happen in any fine dining restaurant, and with the most basic of butter. No smoke, salt, truffle or other flavours in sight. The flavours throughout the meal were also nice, but nothing exceptional or particularly unique. The pumpkin tart was the standout dish for us on the seasonal menu. The presentation was beautiful, but after 5 courses of theatrical "pouring", we felt that it was very overdone. We also had a different wait staff member for every course, making the experience feel a bit cold as there was no ability to bond with one staff member throughout the meal. The wine "pairing" was not a pairing at all in our eyes. The wines fell far short of expectations, and to have a heavy red served with the chicken main was very odd. They brought a little dessert with a candle for my birthday which was really lovely, and appreciated. Basically as soon as we put our dessert forks down though, a team member rushed over, 45 minutes before the end of our dinner booking, to say that they had an excellent table available in the bar but we needed to come now as they couldn't save it. We were meant to have a booking in the bar 45 minutes later, and had requested a window table to watch the drone show as part of Vivid. The table they gave us in the bar was not an excellent table. They told us that the couple sitting by the window who did have the truly excellent table had arrived at 5:30pm to snag that table, and that "there's no time limit in the bar" so they couldn't do anything. This is inherently false, as our booking in the bar said that the tables were limited to 1 hour and 45 minutes. This couple was still dining in the same table almost 4 hours later. We pushed back, saying that we booked the restaurant almost 3 months ago, and that we had requested that table at the bar as part of our bar reservation a couple of weeks before. Meanwhile a couple that walks in on the night is allowed to overstay on the best table in the house - in spite of us booking. We felt that the staff treated us different to the older couples dining beside us in the restaurant - often explaining dishes to them in far more detail - in spite of us asking questions and showing interest. To then move us on from our restaurant table 45 minutes, and to behave in a way that was both unhelpful and rude when we expressed that we were unhappy about our worse table in the bar, means that we will never recommend Oncore to friends or family. Due to the calibre of the restaurant, I was expecting a call to follow up within the days following our booking, however this did not occur - hence this review. While we can't confirm our theories, we assume that the couple dining by the bar window for 4 hours on the full restaurant degustation menu (in spite of this not being offered in the bar from our knowledge) must have been important to the Crown Hotel in some way or another. Save your money and go elsewhere. Botanic in Adelaide also received 3 hats, and is well worth its hype.

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews

Best service I've ever had. The food the wine, everything. I loved it from start to end. I'd go back tomorrow if I could. The wine pairing was exceptional, the food blew me away.

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Our evening at Oncore has cemented a theory I’ve had for some time, white table fine dining is dying. In fact, I now believe that in Sydney, it’s dead. Outpaced and outsmarted by the elite brasseries and casual fine dining establishments that better reflect today’s values and culture. There simply isn’t a product in Sydney good enough to rise above. Each dish served in the seasonal menu at Oncore was unremarkable. Everything was good, but that doesn’t cut it at a $700 a head experience. We couldn’t put our fingers on what was wrong with the Murray cod, until we realised… it needed seasoning. The food service was impersonal. Not once were we asked what we thought of the food, how our meal was. Every dish was delivered with its script. The table was reset between courses. The bill was brought at the end, before it was requested and the credit card machine, tip screen expectantly glowing, was presented. The only exception to the unremarkable service was the sommelier, who added some warm and much needed personality to the evening. With the exception of a middling Pinot Noir, the wines were the highlight of the experience, far surpassing the forgettable food. There was also a point where carrot was made into sorbet. And not in a good way. All in all, a disappointing experience for the bar set by the incredible setting and equally impressive price tag.

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews

This is Sydney’s (possibly Australia's) #1 fine dining restaraunt. Every meal was flawlessly devine. This restaraunt is commensurate with a small international holiday. Simply sublime in every sequence of our experience. Put this on your bucket list or make it the priority for your next very special occasion. It towers over Vue De Monde in quality and our view was a privelaged panorama of the most picturesque visions of Sydney’s water ways. One of my favourite memories now with my beautiful lady

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews

One word WOW. We first saw Clare Smyth as a guest on Australian Masterchef. So it was a no brainer to make reservations when we decided to visit Sydney. The restaurant is beautifully laid out with stunning views of the Opera House, the Bridge and the restaurant’s Kitchen. The staff were friendly and accommodating regarding dietary requirements. They were informative regarding the dishes and wine twinning. All the dishes were delicious - but the highlight was the dessert Core-teser which was sublime - thought I had died and awoke in Chocolate Heaven But if I had one criticism - it would be some of the plating accessories as I am not sure what they bring to the dish and sometimes made it difficult to eat the main attraction - the food

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews

This was my birthday dinner and was probably one of the very best experiences of my life after Ducasse in Hotel Athenée Paris a few years back. The location is formidable with views of Sydney Harbour and almost 360° all around and the furnishings are warm and welcoming with a modern twist with shiny steel columns. The service is undescribably perfect in every sense of the word. The set menu was superb. Each plating presentation was a work of art in itself and almost a shame to devour if it weren't all even more delightful and delicious than the presentation itself. Everything timed to perfection. There is nothing out of place or not organized. When we go back to Sydney we'll certainly go back.

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews

The best restaurant I have ever been to. Service was amazing, view spectacular, music playlist was fun and the food was incredible

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews

A little bit disappointed. The + : The restaurant is beautiful. Open kitchen is amazing. We got the best view overlooking the bridge and Sydney opera house. Food is tasty and look flawless. Service is discreet. The - : We arrive and waited 20mn in the bar. Then, we moved to the restaurant and waited another 10/10 mn (only one table in the restaurant except us). They rushed us at the end, not pleasant, to get the table back even though we ate quite fast. Nobody ask “how was everything?” “Do you need a taxi?” “Any favorite course?” They just gave us the bill, make us pay, and bye. It was my boyfriend birthday, the receptionist asked us and we told her, we saw they told something to the table next to us during dessert about a birthday, but not our table. It looked too busy. Waiting staff great but asking us questions and not looking/ listening for the answers, they were looking at the door or other tables all the time. You don’t feel very comfortable. The service was average, not personalised, very robotic. Food was very tasty, but nothing special. Bread tasty but very simple. Petits fours were very bad.

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews

Fine Dining with view of Opera Hse and Harbour Bridge at level 26 of Crown Towers Sydney. Ordered the 7 course seasonal menu for A$395. Superb. Well worth the money. Comes with a complimentary entree.

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews

If you have a really special occasion then this is the place to go, from the moment you enter the building you are made to feel special. You are greeted as you get off the lift and you even get to say hello to the chefs in the open kitchen, showing you to the table we were thrilled as we had a window seat with gorgeous views of the harbour bridge and the opera house!!! We had the tasting menu which was amazing from start to finish, the core apple and core teaser were works of art, everybite of food was finished to such a high standard and the attention to detail WOW. Every member of staff was so lovely and there’s no stuffiness at all in this restaurant, always ready for a chat after they described the food which was great. Lovely service, lovely food and we being from the UK love the fact that Claire has made her mark in Australia too 👏👏🎉🎉

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews

The menu was fair not spectacular for the price asked ! I felt disappointed by the whole experience

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews

My recount on some of the highlights below: Ambience of the restaurant was that it was far too noisy, wasn’t able here ourselves and also the waiters explaining the food clearly - very hard to hear, mostly unable to capture it. To further add to this ambience, complete overload of staff. Very much unnecessary when they would just casually talk to each other doing nothing. Too many people just walking around the small area that it seems - quite disproportionate. Everyone in the kitchen and working in the floor just looked stressed, tired, unhappy which all contributed to hindering our enjoyment of the food. Serving etiquette for a place like this, expected much much better. Sometimes serving female members on the table last when they should be served first - very inconsistent throughout the night which was not helped by different waiters (of varying experience) managing our table. Bread served was cold. Not the norm that I’d expect. Even in airplanes you get warm bread - doesn’t give me the sense of freshness and the effect of having the butter melt on the bread. Going back to inconsistency in staff experience, there was one time a waiter had almost forgot to explain one of the dishes for a guest (as he’d ordered a different set menu). Again, something that I wouldn’t expect for such a restaurant’s reputatIon I’ve read about. On top of all this, the waiters seemed to be rote learning the menus - instead of addressing us and talking to us about the dish we were served, they addressed someone in “mid-air”, eyes looking up as if reading from a teleprompter, very strange. Sauce pouring was very inconsistent, some guests receiving a noticeably greater amount or a lesser amount. Simply distorts the whole experience, very unacceptable for a restaurant 3 hatted. Wiping the table seems to be all an “act” from the staff. Every time they came to supposedly wipe off crumbs/spillovers - they always seem to keep missing the actual crumbs. If you have 2 eyes, you should use them. You should consider coming here if you want to try the most expensive potato. It’s not a gratin but simply a whole single potato that isn’t even complete (both top and bottom cut off), garnished with some caviar. There is a significant problem when everyone on the table just talks about the sauce/gravy only. One of the desserts called Lemonade and Honey, was quite sour. Unable to the honey and overall reminded me of the honey lemon flavoured Strepsils. Another dessert was their signature ‘Core Apple’. Mine came with a bit of dent on the surface and the bottom of it was not cleanly covered, but rather jagged. This was inconsistent compared to others that got served the same dish - accuracy to detail is not there. Whilst serving the final course, being the petit four, one of the waiters dropped one of the wine jelly balls on the floor. When leaving, one of the waiters brought our jackets we wore. She only brought 3 of them and we needed to remind her that we had 2 more… For a restaurant of this calibre in a 6 star hotel, do we need to remind them? Very disappointed in this experience! As someone who has been to some of the Top 50 restaurants in the world, Oncore across food and service fell significant below par, inconsistent. Will not go again nor will I recommend someone to go unless significant changes considered. Came to give it chance but sadly my thoughts also echo the thoughts from several of our friends who have come here before.

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews

Food was good and the service was also good on the day. However the restaurant did not respect dietary requirements and I was extremely disappointing in their response when this was brought to their attention- they very simply and easily could have shown that they took responsibility for their lack of care on the day. Would expect this of any restaurant, let alone one of this calibre. Pity as the staff seemed very nice and the views beautiful.

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews

Our evening at Oncore was special but we are lucky enough to have been to Core in London a few years ago. That was one of our most memorable worldwide dining experiences, so it was always going to be a difficult one to try to ‘judge’ Oncore, simply because you can’t realistically expect to be wowed in the same way twice. Of course Oncore is not Core in the very obvious ways! But there’s no doubt it’s aim is to be a replica so you can’t help but naturally compare everything. The ‘famous potato course’ for instance felt underwhelming this time - the first time we believed we’d never seen or tasted a more beautiful potato and wondered could it really BE a potato!?!? This time it was….just a potato :( On the other hand, the ‘Core Apples’ at both restaurants scored equal 11/10. An unforgettable dish both times. The main difference is that in Sydney it felt like there was more fuss and flapping going on around us and we felt the sommelier didn’t have a good sense of when to push his stop button!! The service at the London Core was flawless and just happened around you without you really being conscious of it all - Sydney wasn’t flawless. It’s great you can choose from two menus. As a couple you can do one menu each and share, if you are comfortable enough reaching over each other and/or swapping plates! Sure it might look like you’ve left your table manners at home but I believe in fine dining settings, so long as you are relishing their food, they shouldn’t be looking down on customers for a bit creative table etiquette!! We didn’t feel they had any problem with it. Wonderful dishes on the night in addition to Core Apple were the wasabi marron, the lamb carrot and the duck and nectarine courses as well as the little chicken liver parfaits - they were pure gold! I’d suggest they scrap the sourdough, but then sourdough is my gripe with most high end chefs and restaurants. It’s BORING as it’s on everyone’s menu. Oncore could instead be a trendsetter and present a unique type of bread!!! Finally (and this would not be a unique thing because we’ve seen it from other places), it would be fun if Oncore followed up by emailing the menu after your visit so you have a nice little follow up to keep the memories of the evening alive….

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews

Eaten several times at Core , London where it has been faultless in every way. This really disappointed in many ways. Many of the courses were identical to those in London , so not many surprises on the menu. Acoustics so bad that the 4 of us just couldn’t hear the explanation of the food or the wines. Didn’t feel the staff had the warmth that one might expect , certainly nothing like the staff in Core. It feels a shame to compare the 2 restaurants but only natural. Left full ,disappointed and much much lighter in pocket !

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews

One in a lifetime (and even better if someone else pays) - it's not cheap! Location is stunning with views over Sydney Harbour - views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge are spectacular - and both during the day and at night. Our work group had the 7 course degustation which took 4.5hours to be served - and all dishes were great! Word of warning - don't have the massive hunk of bread as it fills you up and means you can't enjoy the last few dishes. The kitchen is "on show" and the staff in the kitchen greet you on arrival - AND it's possible to have photos taken with the chef Clare Smyth who is just incredible and so accessible - just a massive highlight - and puts Oncore on a totally new level in terms of dining experience. Very highly recommended! Do it once!

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews

Our first visit to Clare Smyth's Australian interpretation of her superb three star London restaurant: Core. My wife and I have been lucky enough to eat there and she still raves about the Potato and roe dish to this day. It's here and happy to say, just as gorgeous down under. The restaurant itself is on the 26th floor of the Crown Hotel which affords guests great views of the bridge and opera house. We also found the welcome excellent and the service all evening was amongst the best I've ever experienced; I don't often say that. Michael particularly, was wonderfully helpful and chatted to us for ages about local cuisine. The menu for Dinner was tasting only (choice of two degustation's mind) and since my wife didn't actually care for either main course options, they were very happy to adjust to her taste. Consisting of seven courses: Fraser Island spanner crab, 'Potato and roe', Roasted coral trout, Cheese and onion, Maremma duck and nectarine, 'Core apple' and 'Core-teser'. My wife also had Murray cod as her main. The best dish was the Potato and roe, it's a signature and rightly so. Gorgeously moreish with a very rich seaweed beurre blanc and adorned with herring & trout roe. It's a potato like nothing you've ever eaten before. The other highlights for me were the Fraser Island spanner crab with a tomato and split basil oil consommé poured over, the Cheese and onion with a very lovely onion broth and the famous 'Core apple' followed by the very pleasant Core-teser; a take on a Malteser chocolate. There were a couple of misses though, I did sort of enjoy the Roasted coral trout but it sat on a very dry swiss chard crust that removed all the moisture on the plate. It became very dry but tasted good. The main issue though was the Duck. It looked really good (as all the dishes did), but it wasn't exactly a triumph. The duck was tough and didn't have a particularly crispy skin. The pretty nectarine fronds covered a dry mix of nothing really and the jus wasn't the best. It was all lacking and not really helped by the fact that I'd had a standout duck dish in a simple London Bistro a few weeks back that puts this to shame. Having said all that, overall, the meal was very good and we also enjoyed the service, ambiance and views very much too. For this seven course tasting menu at AUS $340 a head, glasses of English sparkling wine and a good Pinot, tea and tip, we paid AUS $884 or roughly £500, £250 a head. That's pretty much bang on with Core London, a Michelin three star restaurant and bar a couple of niggles for me, Oncore is pretty close all round. Definitely worth a visit.

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews

Long weekend in Sydney without the kids and this was the number one restaurant on the “to visit” list. In terms of food, service, and room/view, we think this is currently Sydney’s best restaurant. Booked about eight weeks in advance and could only get 9:15pm, which was fine as we’d just arrived from Perth and it worked with the time difference. Worries we might get rushed through were baseless as it was relaxed and friendly throughout. The room and view are stunning. The harbour, bridge, and Opera House. Big, open kitchen opposite the view and all the chefs gave a friendly hello on our arrival. Each dish was thoroughly enjoyable. We went for the classics (vs the seasonal) as we’re hoping to visit Core later in the year and thought this would give a chance to compare. Our two favourites were in fact the vegetarian courses, the potato and then the cheese and onion. Loads of bread, delivered with good humour, to “mop” up the delicious sauces. Although you’re not supposed to say “mopping”, according to the French waiter with a smile. There’s a very definite British influence to the food. Service was excellent throughout. Returning to the view, it is surely the best of any restaurant in Sydney. Perhaps Quay compares, for a closer look of the Opera House (unless you dine when a cruise ship is docked!). Overall we think this is the only restaurant in Sydney that compares to the best we’ve eaten at in Europe and America. Certainly the best of the three hatters here.

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews

Oncore is one of the most memorable dining experiences I've had. Every detail was refined, elegant and very enjoyable. It was a delectable culinary journey from start to finish. Also, I love how they bring you a little stool for your handbag.

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews

Except the first few nibble dishes, the food is really average and over priced with horrible service to top it up. Firstly told us there’s a window seat to move us to, then a different waiter came around and told us someone booked 3 months in advance had requested window seat as well so they got the priority. Sounds pretty bs to me as when I requested window seat, this information was never shared! Lots of other fine dining places provide far better service than this one with better food. Please avoid the TRAP!!

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews

Great experience, Food was excellent, service was well coordinated, very good value for money, Would definitely return

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews

This restaurant is absolutely outstanding. Everything i love about fine dining. The service was outstanding. The menu at this time of year is degustation and the artistry is amazing. We started with Spanner Crab, then Potato and Roe, Asparagus tart, Coral trout an Lamb. Then two deserts. Simply outstanding. The view from the 26th floor is amazing. The room is amazing. One of the best pieces of theatre is when they bring out each course. we were 6 at table and 6 waiters came from the kitchen and did a circuit of the table and one stopped behind each of us. Wonderful theatre. This is somewhere you should really should go if you can get a booking. I haven’t enjoyed a restaurant so much for a long time.

Read More in Oncore by Clare Smyth Barangaroo Tripadvisor Reviews